‘Huge gap in conditions in Kashmir and media narrative’

PUNE: “I was in Kashmir for 21 days during the shutdown. The narratives that we hear in mainstream media are much different from the actual situation there,” claimed social activist and journalist Sanika Athavale, who is from Pune.

Athavale organised a peaceful demonstration in Pune on Sunday morning in solidarity with Kashmiris and to spread awareness about the alleged human rights violation in Kashmir. The demonstrators demanded lifting of communication blockade in Kashmir, “reinstating human rights” and initiation of democratic dialogue with citizens residing in J&K.

“Around 35 of us met near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue opposite Sassoon Hospital on Sunday and peacefully expressed our dissent. We got together and spoke about the humanitarian crisis in Kashmir, and how people are suffering. I was surprised that these many people turned up for the cause, just through the flyers I had circulated on social media,” she said.

Athavale has stayed in Kashmir for over a year earlier. This year, she was in Kashmir since the month of June, and was still there when the shutdown occurred after abrogation of Article 370.

“We came together for democracy. I think as a human being, when I see cruelty around me, it is my duty to speak about it,” Athavale said.

She said, “When I was in Kashmir during the shutdown, people around me let me stay with them, fed me, despite themselves being in misery. The government and the media kept insisting that only Section 144 was imposed in Kashmir and nothing bad was happening. But I saw what happens when forces are deployed in this manner. People were locked in their homes. Shops, businesses were closed, people could not find anything to eat, they could not contact anybody, or express how they felt about the whole situation then.”

Athavale said there was a huge gap between the conditions in the state and the media narratives. “When I came back on August 29, and when I saw what is shown in the media here, I was furious. I wanted to spread awareness about the same. That is why I decided to unite people to talk about it,” she said.